ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 15 Jan) Fears of violence have again gripped many villagers in this southern Philippine port city after news broke out that Malaysia deported fugitive Filipino ex-policeman Rizal Alih accused of killing two senior police officials here 17 years ago.
Alih, 60, arived in Manila at the weekend after serving prison terms for illegal possession of weapons and munitions in Sabah in 1994. A Malaysian court sentenced him 12 years in jail for possession of four rifles, and five years for possession of 1,271 bullets and 43 magazines.
Alih escaped to Sabah after allegedly killing Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla and his aide Col. Romeo Abendan after a three-day, hostage-drama inside a police camp Zamboanga City in January 1989. He held the two officers at gunpoint after overpowering his guards while being investigated on graft allegations.
It was thought that Alih died along with more than a dozen other during a bungled military rescue operation that resulted in the burning of the police camp, but his capture in Sabah shocked Philippine authorities.
Alih, 60, arived in Manila at the weekend after serving prison terms for illegal possession of weapons and munitions in Sabah in 1994. A Malaysian court sentenced him 12 years in jail for possession of four rifles, and five years for possession of 1,271 bullets and 43 magazines.
Alih escaped to Sabah after allegedly killing Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla and his aide Col. Romeo Abendan after a three-day, hostage-drama inside a police camp Zamboanga City in January 1989. He held the two officers at gunpoint after overpowering his guards while being investigated on graft allegations.
It was thought that Alih died along with more than a dozen other during a bungled military rescue operation that resulted in the burning of the police camp, but his capture in Sabah shocked Philippine authorities.
The military also implicated Alih in the alleged assassination of Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Climaco, a staunch critic of President Ferdinand Marcos, in September 14, 1984. But both Alih and Climaco\'s families believed the mayor's killing was perpetrated by the military.
Climaco,68, was gunned down in broad daylight in downtown Zamboanga.
"Rizal Alih should stay in Malaysia or should have seek political assylum. His return will again revive fears in Zamboanga and can spark trouble," Ustadz Shariff Julabbi, a well-known Muslim leader, told the Zamboanga Journal on Sunday.
He appealed to relatives of Alih to stay calm. Many locals considered Alih as one of the most notorious gang leader during his time and was blamed by the police and military for the spate of killings and unresolved crimes in Zamboanga City.
Alih's family denied all accusations against him and blamed the military for the summary killings of other family members and relatives.
Julabbi said Alih can now defend himself against all those charges. "It is now up for him to defend himself against all allegations and criminal charges," the influential preacher said.
Alih was escorted in Manila by Malaysian policemen and handed over to the Filipino immigration authority.
"I'm very thankful they have allowed me to return to my family. I still want to live and be close to my 24 children," Alih was quoted as telling reporters in Manila after disembarking from the plane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
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